“You mean that?” She searches my eyes once more as she pulls back.
“Yes, it’s perfect.”
My eyes bore into hers as I use a finger to trace over her features, starting with her eyebrows. “I hope she has your eyes.”
Then down her tiny nose. “And your nose.”
I brush over her freckles next. “Your freckles.”
Finishing off by tracing the shape of her puffy lips. “I hope she has your lips.”
I look back into her emotional eyes. “I hope she’s as beautiful and perfect as you.”
Chapter twenty-three
Shane
The devil’s food and its sacrifices.
~ Two Days Later ~
“Coach Jefferson, how are you feeling after this loss? Taking The Griffins out of the playoffs in just the first round, after such a phenomenal year last season? Would you say you are disappointed with tonight? Do you think your players could have done better?” One of the reporters holds his recorder toward me, waiting for an answer.
I look around the room where we hold the press conferences, standing behind the podium as cameras flash. Microphones, video cameras, and recorders are all aimed my way, waiting to hear what I have to say.
“I wish we weren’t ending the season here. I do wish we would have made it further into the playoffs and proved that we still have what it takes to be champions. Because we do. This season was just not ours. With the number of injured players that we’ve had,greatinjured players, it rocked our ship for a little while. But we got back up, and we gave it our all.”
A few of them nod, agreeing with me. “Am I disappointed? Of course, I’m disappointed that we lost. It was a tight run against the Reapers from Game One, but we did our best. It simply wasn’t enough this season, but we’ll come back stronger in October,” I tell them before continuing.
“Am I disappointed in my players? Do I think they could have done better? Absolutely not. I stand by my team. I amproudof my team. Those men worked hard every single day; they went above and beyond. I’ll always be proud of them despite our loss tonight.”
After a few more questions, I finally wish them goodnight and leave the room. These press conferences are always brutal. Who thought it would be such a great idea to have them held ten minutes after getting off the ice, when emotions are still running high? When I have a team of players who are all down and beating on themselves, wishing they had done better. When they already did their best.
Once we’re all back at our hotel, I head up to my room, ready to call it a night. The only good side to being out of the playoffs is that I’ll get to spend all my days with Aubrey from now on. My phone rings just as I’m shutting the door. I look at the screen and see a picture of my beautiful Angel smiling up at me.
I quickly accept the video call and lift my phone in front of me. “Hi, Angel. I thought you’d be sleeping by now?” She’s bundled up under the covers in our bed, clearly ready to call it a night as well.
“I’m in bed, but I wanted to call you before you went to sleep, see how you’re doing.” She gives me a sympathetic smile.
“I’m okay. It sucks, but we’ll get over it and try harder in the fall.” I shrug, kicking off my shoes and setting the phone down on the dresser to remove my tie.
“I know you will. I’m proud of you, Shane. And that speech you gave was beautiful. I know it will mean a lot to the guys hearing you say that.”
“Thanks.” I smile, taking off my suit jacket and beginning to unbutton my dress shirt. “How’s our girl doing?”
Aubrey’s face lights up at the mention of our baby. “She’s good, I can feel her moving around more and more. It’s a crazy feeling, but I love it.”
I throw my dress shirt down on the bed and pick up the phone as I sit on the edge of the mattress. “Yeah? God, I can’t wait to be able to feel her too.”
“Dr. Carlson said you should start feeling her within the next few weeks. She’s been kicking a lot today, so who knows. Maybe tomorrow you will when you get home,” she says softly with an affectionate smile, but it quickly turns into a yawn.
“You should get some sleep, sweetheart. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?” I tell her, wishing I could be with her right now.
“Okay, I love you. And again, we’re really proud of you, Daddy,” she whispers.
My throat clogs with emotions at the name. “I love you both. Goodnight, Angel.”
“Goodnight, Shane.”
